MATAU METALLING

Taranaki Daily News, 19 August 1935, Page 8

MATAU METALLING

MINISTER OFFERS SUBSIDY STRATFORD COUNTY ACTIVITIES. Further; correspondence regarding the metalling of approximately six miles of Matau North, Mangamaire. and Junction Roads was received by the Stratford County Council on Saturday. Referring to the representations made by the council to the Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Employment, the Minister wrote advising that he had discussed the matter with the Minister of Public Works. Subject to the negotiations between the council and the Main Highways Board resulting in an approved scheme for the metalling of these roads, the Unemployment Board would no doubt be prepared to offer a subsidy at the rate of 35s per man-week towards the wages of registered and eligible married men engaged through a Government Employment Bureau : and employed on this work full time at standard rates of pay. ...... The council decided to leave the matter in the hands of the chairman, who was authorised to interview the Minister.

The council’s approval to the reappointment of Mr. ■ T. T. Murray for a further term to the Stratford Technical High School-Board was sought by Mr. A. H. R. ’Amess, principal.. It seemed somewhat unnecessary to have another election in view of the fact that Mr. Murray was elected unanimously by the electing committee to the position recently vacated by the late Mi’. H. Trimble, stated Mr. Amess’ letter. The council approved Mr. Amess* suggestion. _ In reply to the councils’ request to the district railway engineer, Wanganui, that the spreading of .noxious weeds along the Stratford-Okahukura railway by seed being carried ■ in the ballast used on the line be attended to, the engineer wrote advising that instructions had been issued to gangs to have the weeds referred to removed. Forty yards of pit gravel obtained from Mr. Agent’s property on Croydon Road had been quarried and used in improving the road surface, stated the engineer’s report on north riding work for the m jnth. The entrance to the Midhirst cemetery had been formed, coated ,with metal and blinded with gravel. The recent broken weather had had the effect of delaying the completion of the Skinner Road bridge in the south riding. The spiking down of the decking, the placing and painting of the handrail posts and the. building of the sixinch concrete walls at the ends of the rolled , steel joists to retain the road filling still remained to be done. 11l addition to a good deal of metal patching, watertabling and drain clearing in the east riding small slips had been cleared on the Strathmore Saddle. In the west riding 143 yards of shingle had been carted from the Wawiri Road pit, eighty-two yards of which had been used in surfacing the lower mile and a half of Waingongoro Road. Thirtyseven yards would be used in re-surfac-ing Ronald Road and 12 yards on Cardiff Road. / Twenty chains of the latter road would require to he refaced with rnetal, which had been dumped on the sidd of the road. On portions of Opunake No. 2 and Ronald Roads, considerable quantities of blinding had been washed off the metalled surfaces by the recent heavy rains. In two cases on Ronald Road larger pipes would be required to replace the old original pipes. In one case on Opunake No. 2 it was suggested to put in an extra set. The contractor for the Mangatoki stream culvert had completed the concrete work and removed the boxing. The clay covering would be put in

hand in about a fortnight’s time, when the concrete would have set. j. ne creek crossing on tne deviation on Mangaehu Road, in the Mangaehu riding, which had become almost impassable, had been repaired. Two small channels had been cut and these had been covered with timber and the crossing made up with clay. The contract for forming a sledge track on .Taihere Road between the flat and the saddle had been completed.

The greater part of the month in the Ngatimaru riding had been occupied with repairs to Matau North Road. The greater part of the timber in what was known as McCoard’s bridge had been salvaged and placed on the banks of the Waitara River. There were present Crs. T. R. Anderson (chairman), H. C. Taylor, J. C. Best, C. Skitrop, B. Hutchen, G. Jensen, W. Vickers, S. Pitt and J. L. Stanford. SOCIAL SOCIETY’S FINAL. NGAERE SEASON CONCLUDED The last of the Ngaere Social Society’s gatherings on Wednesday night was unusually successful, the attendance being the largest this winter. The receipts at the door amounted to more than £l9. After supper the chairman of the society, Mr. J. H. Thomas, expressed appreciation of the visitors’ support and thanked members of the committee and others who had worked to make the evenjpgs enjoyable. Special thanks, he said, were due to Mrs. J. Bonner, who had undertaken the making of coffee. Mr. Thomas said that the hall committee, in conjunction with the social society, would hold a euchre party and dance towards the end of the month, the proceeds to form the nucleus of a fund, it was hoped, for a comprehensive hall Improvement scheme. It was apparent to anyone present that to cater satisfactorily for patrons it was imperative that more accommodation should be provided. The social society would not disband,’ but would be in action again next winter. Music for the dance was supplied by the Valencia Dance Band,, extras being played by Misses E. Coleman and H. Henry and Mr. G. Couter. Messrs. Marton and Pope were masters of ceremonies. Novelty dances were won as follows: Dutch Monte Carlo, Miss Reid and Mr. Fitzgerald; statue log cabin, Mrs. Campbelt and Mr. Marley; spot one step, Mr. and Mrs. J. Watson; Monte Carlo, Mr. and Mrs. H. Martin; bobbing waltz, Miss Read and Mr. Read.

Euchre prizewinners were: Mrs. Millar 1, Miss H. Henry 2, Mrs. L. Cameron 3; Mr. S. D. Coleman 1, Mr. H. Harris and Mr. W. Gane equal 2, Mr. W. Marr 3.

The social committee completed its activities for the season at a meeting on Saturday night. The secretary reported that about £22 would be available for distribution. This was considered satisfactory for an initial effort. The chairman commented upon the thoroughness with which representatives had carried out their duties, especially the secretary, Mr. A. R. Walker.